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Soundtrack and Music
April 6, 2026 at 11:19 AM
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Music plays a central role in the Paralives experience, designed to heighten emotional moments, set the mood during everyday activities, and make each location in the town feel distinct. Rather than relying on short jingles, the team opted for longer musical cues that appear less frequently and blend more naturally into gameplay. The goal is for players to feel immersed in the moment without being overwhelmed by constant musical interruptions.
Andrei Castanon joined Paralives Studio in May 2021 as the game's Music Composer and Sound Designer. He is a pianist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and self-taught producer who is passionate about video games and film. Impressively, Andrei has single-handedly composed and performed all of the songs in the game's soundtrack, as well as recorded sound effects, all from his home studio.
Beyond music composition, Andrei also handles voice work for the game. He recorded over 500 takes of Parli voice lines for Parafolk animations and is considered fluent in the fictional language by the development team. His dual role as both the sole musician and the primary voice actor makes him one of the most versatile contributors to the project.
Paralives features four radio stations at launch that players can access through radio or speaker objects placed in their homes or found at public venues. Parafolk can interact with these objects to pick a channel. Each station plays original music composed by Andrei Castanon, with genres chosen to provide variety and complement different play styles.
Station | Genre | Description |
|---|---|---|
LoFi | Lo-fi / Chill | Relaxed, low-fidelity beats suited for quiet moments at home or studying. |
Indie Pop | Indie Pop | Upbeat, catchy songs influenced by a wide range of indie and pop styles. |
Rock | Rock / J-Rock | Energetic tracks with rock instrumentation, drawing some influence from Japanese rock. |
Old Ballads | Ballads / Classic | Slower, sentimental songs with a nostalgic quality. |
Andrei created special music for these radio stations leading up to the Early Access launch. Many of the radio tracks were composed entirely from scratch in under a day each, demonstrating both the efficiency and creative range of the production process. A preview video showcased eight radio tracks (two per genre), giving fans an early taste of the in-game radio experience.
The soundtrack in Live Mode is not static background music. Instead, Paralives uses a dynamic music system where the score changes based on what Parafolk are doing and how they are feeling. The team designed the music to emphasize special moments in a Para's life, similar to how a film score sets the mood for specific scenes. Rather than playing constantly, the dynamic cues serve as indicators to the player that something important is happening.
Specific gameplay triggers cause different musical responses:
Trigger | Musical Response |
|---|---|
Promotion or achievement | Uplifting, celebratory cue reflecting the Parafolk's joy. |
Danger or fire | Music slowly builds to indicate growing danger; stops only when the threat is resolved. |
After a fire is extinguished | A short, sad cue plays to reflect the loss of belongings. |
First kiss or romantic moment | A romantic and wholesome cue accompanies the successful interaction. |
Stressful situation | The soundtrack reflects growing stress levels with tense instrumentation. |
One notable feature of the dynamic system is the ability for radio music to transition seamlessly into soundtrack music during special moments. For example, if a Parafolk is listening to the radio and experiences a significant life event, the radio song can fade into a dynamic soundtrack cue to underscore the moment. This blending of radio and soundtrack creates a cinematic feel within everyday gameplay.
Each shop and business venue in the town has its own unique background music composed specifically for that location. The idea was to create simple, catchy songs that match the personality of each business, so players can enjoy distinct musical atmospheres as they explore different parts of town with their Parafolk.
Examples of shop-specific music include:
Shop Type | Music Style |
|---|---|
Clothing shop | Smooth Muzak with Bossa Nova vibes; classy and understated. |
Antiques shop | A simple, waltzy melody that evokes nostalgia and charm. |
Flower shop | Zen and meditative composition with ambient sounds of waves, birds, and trees, making the plants feel like they are still out in nature. |
This attention to musical detail extends the game's philosophy of making every location feel unique and lived-in, rewarding players who take the time to explore the full town.
Several specific tracks from the Paralives soundtrack have been officially named and previewed by the development team:
Track Name | Context | Description |
|---|---|---|
Paper Pet | Paramaker music | The theme that plays during character creation. Accompanies the process of designing new Parafolk. |
Golden Days | Build Mode (daytime) | Daytime Build Mode track with country folk vibes and ambient elements. Designed to evoke nostalgia, with its climax peaking early to convey that things will never be the same twice, but can still be beautiful. |
Witches | Radio | A song created and kept for the in-game radio. Can transition into the dynamic soundtrack system during special gameplay moments. |
All music production takes place in Andrei Castanon's home studio. He composes, performs, and produces each track without outside musicians. This solo approach gives the entire soundtrack a cohesive sonic identity, with Andrei's personal style threading through every piece of music in the game.
The behind-the-scenes process has been documented extensively through Patreon posts and development updates by Alex Masse, giving the community visibility into how individual tracks are conceived and produced. This transparency has been part of the broader community engagement strategy that has defined Paralives' development.
